Jockey Prado to miss at least a month with neck fracture

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado is expected to be sidelined at least 30 days after fracturing his neck in a Thursday morning training accident at Keeneland.

Prado fractured his C-7 vertebra after falling from a horse who was not breezing, according to his agent, Bob Klesaris. The horse threw its head back, striking Prado in the face and apparently knocking him out, causing the jockey to fall.

Prado was scheduled to ride Vinceremos in the Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland. That mount has been picked up by Julien Leparoux.

Prado, 46, is best known for his rides aboard Barbaro in the 2006 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. The Peru native has 6,703 career victories, ninth-most all-time and second only to Russell Baze among active North American jockeys.